Clear-view window



June 15, 1965 G. HERRMANN ETAL 3,188,700

CLEAR-VIEW WINDOW Filed oct. 24, 1961 Umm m Pm.

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United States Patent O 3,188,700 CLEAR-VIEW WINDOW Gustav Herrmann,Bremen-Oberneuland, and Bernhard Koch, Bremen-Grambke, Germany,assignors to Atlas- Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Bremen, Germany Filed(1ct. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 147,299 Claims priority, application Germany,Nov. 2, 1966, A 35,926, A 35,927 8 Claims. (Cl. 20-40.5)

The present invention relates to a clear-view window with a rotatingpane, and is particularly suitable for use with clear-view windows inwhich the rotating pane is mounted in the centre of a iixed window pane.With such windows there is the danger of precipitations occurring in theinterspace between the rotating and iixed panes, and Vthis may beavoided by a fan provided on the peripheral yedge of the rotating pane.

According to the invention, a clear-view window comprises a revolvingpane, driving means therefor, and ,v

mounting means for the driving means and the revolving pane, having afan arranged to force air towards the periphery of the pane through agap between the pane and the mounting means.

This fan may be arranged preferably within the zone of the gap between arim of the revolving pane and the frame of the clear-view window. Thisventilation produces a continuous flow of air vfrom the inside towardsthe outside and eliminates effectively the entry of water and air.

The fan is conveniently designed as a radial fan. For this purpose, anannular projection connected to the window rim may be designed as abucket or paddle ring, for example, by being provided with a simple rowof holes or an oblique recess.

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an axial cross-sectional of one embodiment of a clear-viewwindow `with external drive;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-section through the window rim andwindow frame of another vclear-view window with a center drive, and

FIGURE 3 isa *fragmentary view of one form of the window rim of FIGURE2.

The clear-view window shown in FIGURE 1 consists substantially of arevolving rotating pane 1,connected in the center by a threaded ring2-to a threaded bush 3. The threaded bush 3 is arranged to receive theend 4 of a shaft 5. The pane 1, -bush 3, and shaft 5 are iirrnlyinterconnected'by a cover 6 and a shaft flange 7, which are securedtogether by a bolt 8.

The shaft 5 is located in two ball bearings 9 and 10, and securedagainst axial displacement by circular clips 11 and 12. The bearings 9and 10 are mounted in a common bearing spindle 13 which is iirrnly fixedby a threaded cap 14 in a Window pane 15, for example, in the portholein the Wheelhouse of a vessel.

The pane 1 is driven byv an electric motor, surrounding the pane in theform of a ring. The rotor 16 of the motor, having a winding 16a, formsthe rim of the pane, and a stator 17, having a winding 17a, forms thewindow frame or a part thereof. In the embodiment of the drawing, theelectric motor is a squirrel cage rotor A.C. motor. The air gap 18 formsalso the gap between the revolving window section and the window frame.

This air gap forms the inner part of a labyrinth-like channel extendingfrom a space between panes 1 and 15 to the outside ofthe assembly, theconfiguration of which is arranged to present the ingress of water. Inorder to form this labyrint-h channel, the rotor 16 carries an ICCannular projection 19 of L-ishlaped cross-section, the outer part 29 ofwhich embraces the stator 17. Similarly, the stator carries an annularprojection 21 of double-L- shaped cross-section, forming, together withthe outer part 29 of the annulus 19, an annular chamber 22. Within thisannular chamber 22, the outer part 20 of the annulus 19 carries a row ofholes 23, extending over the entire circumference. In this way, theouter part 20 is given the properties of a fan through which the air isdrawn from the space 24 between the revolving pane 1 and the ixed pane15, and forced towards the outside. Thus, both the entry of air andwater from the outside is avoided, and effective protection is providedagainst the misting over of the window. Part of the motor winding may bearranged to constitute a heater winding.

The part 2lb of the annulus 19 has a triangular crosssection so that thediameter of its inner surface-viewed from the inside towards theperiphery, that is to say in the direction of the ilow of air-increases,and also the outside has a diameter increasing from the inside towardsthe outside. In this way, any water entering into the labyrint-h channeland chamber 22 is forced towards the outside by the centrifugal force,as soo-n as it reaches the revolving part 19, 20a

The fan need only have a comparatively small delivery output, and thishas the advantage that the fan noise may be reduced to a minimum. Thelow noise generation of the embodiment of the fan shown in the drawingis due especially also to the fact that the ring of holes is not facedby a stationary ring, located at a small .distance therefrom, and thatthe ring faces towards the inside the larger air chamber 22. Noise maybe further reduced by arranging the hole 23 obliquely, as shown withrespect to groove 33 in FIGURE 3, although this is optional.

In order to cause a circulation of air in the space 24 with gas-tightarrangements, that is to say, in the case of a gas-tight joint betweenthe pane 15 and the Wall 2S of the room and bearing cap 14, an air duct26 is provided in the pane 15, communicating at 27, immediately adjacentto the bearing Aspindle 13, with the space between panes 1 and 1S and at28 with an air duct leading outside.

The stator or frame 1'7 for the revolving pane 1 is connected iirmlywith the porthole window 15 by a ring 29 and bolts Sil.

In the embodiment of a clear-,viewwindow shown in FIGURE 2 with centerdrive, the outer annulus;2.0 is formed with holes 23a, open towards theedge of the annulus. In this manner, the air present in these holes isforced not only radially towards the outside, but also axially into anoutlet 31 of the labyrinth channel, `and thereby assists the circulationof air from the insidetowards the outside. Preferably, the holes 23ahave the form of grooves, sloping contrary to the sense of rotation. Afurther annulus 32 is Iitted on the inside of the rim 16. This innerannulus is equipped, in the same way as the outer annulus 20, 23a, withgrooves 33, open towards the gap and positioned obliquely against thedirection of rotation, so that the ilow of air towards the outside inthe adjacent zone of the gap 18 is encouraged and water, adhering to thewalls of the gap opposite the annulus, is carried along. Also here the`section of the gap wall and the annulus 32 have diameters increasing inthe direction of flow.

The present invention may be modified and changed in many respectswithout departing from its principle. In particular, the arrangement ofa fan within the range of the gap between rim and frame of the revolvingpane of the clear-view window may be applied to clear-view windows ofany design, for example, with drives by means of a iiexible shaft, bybelts, or from the central snaar/oo E s motor. Furthermore, theventilation may be effected without the aid of outer annulus 2@ such asis shown in FTGURE 2.

We claim:

1l. A clear view window construction comprising a rotatable transparentwindow spaced substantially parallel to a fixed transparent window, saidrotatable window and said transparent fixed window defining a spacetherebetween, supporting means for said rotatable transparent windowcomprising a centrally located shaft means, an annular rim surroundingsaid rotatable transparent window and joined thereto, said annular rimcarrying tan means for continuously forcing air towards and out from theperiphery of said rotatable window from said space upon rotation of saidwindow, said annular rim defining a por tion of a labyrinth channelpassing from said space to said periphery, a duct means for allowingentrance of outside air to said space at a point remote from said fanmeans, and drive means associated with said rotatable window for causingrotation thereof.

2. A clear View window construction comprising a rotatable transparentwindow spaced from a fixed transparent window; said rotatable window andsaid transparent xed window delining a space therebetween, supportingmeans for said rotatable window comprising a entraily located shaftmeans, an annular rim surround- Ving said rotatable transparent' windowand joined thereto in gastight relationship, said annular rim carryingfan means for forcing air towards the periphery of said rotatable windowlfrom said space upon rotationot said rotatable window, lixed meansmounted on said xed window in gastight relationship therewith, spacedfrom said rim and cooperating with said rim to dene a labyrinth channelextending from said space to said periphery, said labyrinth chanelcomprising an annular air gap adjacent said rim and an annular spaceadjacent said fan means with said annular space positioned outwardly ofsaid air gap from said central shaft and means for allowing entrance ofair to said space at a point remote for said fan means.

3. A clear View window construction in accordance with claim 2 whereinsaid fan means comprises a projection from said rim, said projectiondefining openings therein which act as a means for impelling fluid fromsaid space between said windows to a surrounding atmosphere.

4. A clear View window construction in accordance with clairn 2 whereinsaid shaft means is mounted on said fixed window and said space has alarger cross sectional area than said gap.

'5. A clear view window construction comprising a rotatable transparentwindow spaced substantially parallel to a fixed transparent window, saidrotatable window and said transparent fixed window defining a spacetherebetween, mounting means for said rotatable window com prising acentrally located shaft means, an annular rim surrounding said rotatabletransparent window and joined Y thereto'in gastight relationship, saidannular rim carrying fan means'for continuously forcing air towards theperiphery of said rotatable window from said space upon rotation of saidrotatable window, xed means spaced from said rim and cooperating withsaid rim to define a iabyrinth channel extending from said space to saidperiphery, said labyrinth channel comprising an air gap adjacent'saidrim and an annular space adjacent said fan means with said annular spacepositioned outwardly of said air gap from said central shaft, saidannular rim and said fixed means comprising portions of an annularelectric driving rntor for revolving said rotatable window with said airgap spacing said fixed means from said annular rim, and ductmeansleading from said space to a surrounding atrnosphere with said ductmeans and said iabyrinth channel together comprising the only iiuidcommunication passageways between said space and the surroundingatmosphere.

d. A clear view window in accordance with claim S wherein said fan meanscomprises an annulus defining a plurality of openings passing throughthe annulus from said annular space to a surrounding atmosphere.

7'. A clear view window in accordance with claim 6 wherein said openingscomprise channels lying in a plane and eachl of said channels areinclined from radii passing through said shaft means.

d. A clear View window construction comprising a rotatable transparentwin-dow having an outer rim and being spaced substantially parallel to afixed transparent'window mounted in gas-tight relationship on an outerside of a wall,

said rotatable window and saidV transparent fixed window defining aspace therebetween and having gastight means sealing all portions of aspace defined between the fixed and rotatable windows with the exceptionot a portion or" said space at said outer rim and ducting meanscommunicating with said space and with the surrounding atmosphere on theouter side of said wall for aliowing air flow through said space, andsaid outer rim comprising fan means for drawing air from said space tosaid outside atmosphere.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES `PATENTS k1,508,761 9/ 24DeNormanville 20--40.5 6 1,658,172 2/28 Olson Ztl-40.56 2,298,063 10/42MacPherson 20-4056 X 3,103,712 9/ 613 Allinikov et al u 20e-40 FOREIGNPATENTS 284,275 1929 Great Britain. 739,794 11/55 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. NORTON VANSHER, Examiner.

8. A CLEAR VIEW WINDOW CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A ROTATABLE TRANSPARENTWINDOW HAVING AN OUTER RIM AND BEING SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AFIXED TRANSPARENT WINDOW MOUNTED IN GAS-TIGHT RELATIONSHIP ON AN OUTERSIDE OF A WALL, SAID ROTATABLE WINDOW AND SAID TRANSPARENT FIXED WINDOWDEFINING A SPACE THEREBETWEEN AND HAVING GASTIGHT MEANS SEALING ALLPORTIONS OF A SPACE DEFINED BETWEEN THE FIXED AND ROTATABLE WINDOWS WITHTHE EXCEPTION OF A PORTION OF SAID SPACE AT SAID OUTER RIM AND DUCTINGMEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SPACE AND WITH THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHEREON THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID WALL FOR ALLOWING AIR FLOW THROUGH SAID SPACE,AND SAID OUTER RIM COMPRISING FAN MEANS FOR DRAWING AIR FROM SAID SPACETO SAID OUTER ATMOSPHERE.